We’re late!
Despite us writing our schedule out for the morning, we’re heading to the Albertville depart later than we should.
I just smile when people tell me about the high old time we’ll have in France.
By the time we get from the parcours to the hotel, edit the pictures, insert picture holders in the text and get all that sent off, it’s well after 9:00 pm when we grab a pizza and one beer.
Immediately after, it’s back to the room to work on more words and pictures plus deal with emails from editors, friends and contributors – eventually we succumb to sleep around 1:00 am.
Up at 08:00, check CyclingNews, get onto the words and pics, quick breakfast, finish and edit everything, pack and head out – late.
But there’s no gas in the car – find the world’s slowest filling station, re-programme the satnav and here were on the autoroute south – snapping JV as we pass the Garmin car.
We love it, but if you didn’t have cycling in your veins, it would be a nightmare.
The scenery is stunning as we head for Albertville, limestone crags tower, fluffy clouds cling to them and a warm July sun has the air con. working hard.
We’d love to drive the race route, today but it’s a dead end mountain top finish which will be a total nightmare to evacuate.
So today, we’ll work the start and then find a nice bar to watch the finale in.
. . . and that was how it looked on Thursday morning.
Now, it’s Friday morning, it’s damp, cool and the wi-fi in our Formule 1 is a nightmare.
Luckily, we managed to get our pictures away for our first piece yesterday afternoon – ‘working the start.‘
But the wi-fi had a bad turn in the evening so no dice on our second piece and the rest of our pics, so apologies for this going up late.
It was a bit of a ‘sprachle’ at the start, time wasn’t on our side – but we managed to speak to five men whose names people recognise and who have something to say that’s worth listening to.
Marc Sergent is the main man at Lotto Belisol – Belgian elite road race champion in his day, he always gives good answers with no waffle.
My amigo Dave Chapman jousted with Monsieur Sergent ‘back in the day’ when they were both racing the kermises in Belgium.
Sergent’s take is that Wiggins has it won.
David Brailsford was our next target but he was called away to answer some urgent enquiry from Brad; ‘where’s me sideburn trimmer, Dave?‘
Servais Knaven was a good substitute; it’s not so long since I remember him in his mud splattered QuickStep kit heading for Roubaix and immortality.
He’s soft spoken and polite and a good ambassador for his sport and team.
Dag Otto Lauritzen was next, always smiling, still much in demand for autographs and hand shakes – a cool guy with good insights.
As we chatted to him, a fan rushed up with a postcard of Dag in his Motorola days, to get the man to sign it.
Stephen Roche is always friendly and quotable – he’s lost weight since last year and was in good form.
Which is more than can be said for Fabio Baldato, file under ‘cool but grumpy.’
Despite Cadel’s friendly demeanour, there’s not a good vibe around the team – maybe they knew what was going to happen in the afternoon?
Job done we headed for Grenoble and the Formule 1 ‘pod’ hotel.
The afternoon went well, we got our words and pix sorted out from the F1 then headed off to bar le Clemenceau to watch the stage on the tele.
Le Clemenceau is ‘my’ bar from the Grenoble six day – it’s wee, friendly, has a good range of beverages and a good plasma screen.
I wrote the piece as we watched the race – and what a race.
Respect to Rolland; he’s not sparkled this season, thus far – but he’s peaked perfectly.
A Tour stage win is a huge deal in France and coming on the back of Tommy’s win on stage 10 it makes it a brilliant Tour for Europcar.
Froome?
I’ve had a couple of texts from back home expressing sympathy for Froome’s situation – ‘Brad’s holding him back!‘
But it must be remembered that when Froome took second place in the Vuelta, last season there were at least 11 teams after his services for 2012 – 17 teams if you believe some sources.
Despite the fact that prior to the Vuelta, Sky hadn’t told him they were renewing his contract – that’s how it usually is, no one tells you that you’re out, they simply keep quiet and hope you get the me